Coast region rotary clubs have joined hands to host a mega event dubbed Sunshine Rally on February 8^th to fundraise money that will be used to initiate community projects aimed at benefiting the physically challenged people in the region.

The one-day event that will be held at Shree Swaminarayan School is targeting to bring together more 2,500 pupils across the region and engage them in various sporting and fun activities. 

The event activities and logistical issues have been sponsored by Mombasa Cement who are dedicated to ensure the Rally will have an impact for generations matching their slogans Building for Generations.

The event, which is anticipated to demand chauffeuring services, refreshments, gift packs, venue payments would have been a huge burden to the Coast Rotary Clubs thank you to the Platinum sponsor Mombasa Cement.

Speaking to one of the event organizer Rose Chege a decorated Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Mombasa Downtown said that the Sunshine Rally Coast edition preparations are on going well and that she is happy for the support that is flowing through from various corners.  

“So far we have so many rotarians, rotaractors and friends of rotary who are willing to be volunteers for different roles during the event, this shows how coastarians have embraced the event” noted Rose.

On the other hand, Mombasa Cement have promised to provide food items to twelve schools in the region courtesy of the Sunshine Rally as part of their sponsorship. That will include bags of maize, beans, sugar and gallons of edible oil among others. We urge the community to support the event by buying event merchandise like t-shirts, monetary support through PAYBILL 247247 ACC. RCMD15.

Mombasa press club chairman Omar Abdallah has challenged journalists to promote road safety campaigns by telling informative stories within their media platforms.

Abdallah who spoke during the official launch of Mombasa county road safety report 2023,on Tuesday, reiterated on Role of Media in Promoting Road Safety in the country.

He stressed on Effective communication about road safety, whether in the media, in safety campaign materials, or in community outreach efforts, saying it plays an important role in ensuring safety mobility of all road users.

His call comes in the wake of a sustained road safety campaign by government and private sector players from  Mombasa in collaboration with international partner's in the quest to  zero rate on road crashes.

"Media outlets serve as a bridge between the government and the public. By actively participating in such sensitization programs, journalists and media personnel can effectively communicate the importance of road safety to the masses,"said Abdalla.

While acknowledging the significant work done by journalist in ensuring safety on our roads, Abdallah said media can shape the agenda and influence change in public behavior especially on our roads.

"Through news articles, editorials, and public service announcements, media can influence public behavior and encourage adherence to traffic regulations. Understanding the Significance of Road Safety," Omar added.

Mombasa press club and a host of it's members have been among a pool of journalists trained on solution based reporting so as to sensitize the public on the importance of reducing road Carnage in the country.

"Road safety is not just a governmental responsibility but a collective societal duty.

Mombasa Press Club Chairman challenges journalists to take up role of sensitizing members of the club on road safety," he added.

He also called on partners and stakeholders to support the media through award for local journalists and grants for jour Alistair to tell stories.

In the report launched on Tuesday in Mombasa reported number of road traffic deaths increased by 36% in 2023, from 69 in 2022 to 94, while serious injuries rose by 17%, from 161 in 2022 to 188.

Vulnerable road users’ pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists—made up 92% of the reported deaths in 2023, with pedestrians alone accounting for 56% of these deaths.

The findings also showed that deaths were frequently reported from crashes which occurred from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight.

At the report launch event, Rebecca Bavinger of Bloomberg Philanthropies pointed out that it was great to see the work and progress in Mombasa to save lives from road crashes, however, more needs to be done to see a reduction in deaths and injuries.

 "We commend the county's proactive approach to road safety, notably through the establishment of the County Transport and Safety Committee. BP stands ready to offer further technical assistance, while BIGRS will continue to support the Mombasa County government in enhancing road safety for all users”.

The Mombasa City County Government, in partnership with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), has released the 2023 Mombasa Road Safety Report.

The report, which sourced data from police crash reports, provides insights into the scope and trends of traffic crashes, injuries and deaths in Mombasa County.

Findings from the report shows that the reported number of road traffic deaths increased by 36% in 2023, from 69 in 2022 to 94, while serious injuries rose by 17%, from 161 in 2022 to 188.

Vulnerable road users’ pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists—made up 92% of the reported deaths in 2023, with pedestrians alone accounting for 56% of these deaths.

The findings also showed that deaths were frequently reported from crashes which occurred from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight.

At the report launch event, Rebecca Bavinger of Bloomberg Philanthropies pointed out that it was great to see the work and progress in Mombasa to save lives from road crashes, however, more needs to be done to see a reduction in deaths and injuries.

 "We commend the county's proactive approach to road safety, notably through the establishment of the County Transport and Safety Committee. BP stands ready to offer further technical assistance, while BIGRS will continue to support the Mombasa County government in enhancing road safety for all users”.

 On his part Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing road safety challenges.

 "As a county, we are deeply committed to safeguarding the lives of all road users by prioritizing data-driven policies and interventions. We are grateful to the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety and all our partners for their unwavering support in addressing this critical public health issue." Said Nassir

The Governor further stated that the initiative had provided crucial support to the County Government of Mombasa, particularly to the Department of Transport and Infrastructure.

 He highlighted that, through the partnership, they had been able to focus on critical areas such as communication, advocacy, and policy development, as well as road crash data collection and surveillance.

As part of BIGRS, the Kenya Police Coast Region and the Mombasa Inspectorate have received capacity training with the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) and equally y received radar speed gun devices, which has continued to strengthen enforcement efforts and collaboration to improve road safety in Mombasa.

The report identified the top five high-risk points in Mombasa County, these are: Hass Filling Station along Mombasa Road, Postal Corporation along Likoni-Ukunda Road, Loreto Convent Primary School along Nyerere Avenue, Palm City along Malindi Road, and AIPCA, Makande Cathedral along Mombasa Road.

These locations have been flagged as critical areas requiring targeted safety interventions. Similarly, the top five high-risk corridors include Mombasa–Nairobi Road, Mombasa–Malindi Road, Port Reitz–Airport Road, Likoni–Ukunda Road, and Makupa Causeway.

These corridors have consistently recorded high numbers of crashes and fatalities, underscoring the need for comprehensive road safety measures along these routes.

 Mombasa Transport Executive Daniel Manyala, emphasized the government's role in enhancing road safety measures.

He stated that the devastating impact of road traffic crashes on communities could not be ignored and stressed the need for strengthened efforts to address the issue.

"This report underscores the critical need for strengthened enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and targeted engineering interventions to address the most dangerous corridors and intersections. Together, we can reverse these alarming trends." Said Manyala.

Dr. Raphael Awuah, Vital Strategies Regional Technical Advisor for Africa on Road Injury Surveillance, presented key findings at the launch event.

He noted “Understanding who is dying on roads, and where and why crashes are happening is key to developing interventions to save lives. The increase in deaths and injuries reflected in this new report indicates that urgent action is needed to prevent these devastating crashes. With this data, leaders can continue to shape actions that will make Mombasa’s roads safer—especially for groups like pedestrians, who make up more than half of those killed on Mombasa’s streets in 2023.”

 The findings in the report will go a long way in informing police enforcement, behavior change communication, and engineering interventions aimed at reducing road traffic deaths and injuries in Mombasa.

In a time where data drives decision making and innovation, the journey of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed from a technical concept to a cornerstone of modern business strategies. And today, we’ve reached the point in the evolution of data’s ‘AI-dentity’ that demands careful navigation to ensure that organisations are able to unlock real business value, but also maintain ethical and responsible practices.

Climbing Maslow’s AI hierarchy

Phil Anderson, Sales Manager for Digital Business Solutions at Datacentrix, places significant focus on having the right building blocks in place to manage risk versus deriving business value.

Anderson draws a parallel between Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and a business’s journey with AI, where foundational layers such as responsible and ethical AI policy, robust data management and governance, considered platform choices, and the human factors all need to be considered to form the foundation of sustainable innovation. This is reflected in the current market, where scaling past proof of concept (POC) stage is a challenge for most organisations. Not only is this a problem for business value realisation, but also presents real and tangible risk to reputation and legislative compliance.

"Before deploying advanced AI capabilities, companies must ensure ethical and transparent practices, balancing innovation with the human impact on customers and employees. There is a responsibility on all of us to ensure that AI enhances the human experience, and is deployed to generate outcomes without unfair bias.”

Anderson further highlights the risks of unfettered AI advancements, referencing the rise of publicly available AI tools that operate without sufficient guardrails and protections. “It’s not just the dark web anymore; AI’s risks are surfacing in public platforms every day. This makes it crucial for African organisations to adopt a robust stance on ethical AI now, ensuring their risks are managed.”

The unsung hero – data management

Data management and governance often take a backseat in AI conversations, yet they are critical for success. Arno Hanekom, Digital Strategist for Digital Business Solutions at Datacentrix, underscores this point: "In the past few months alone, as Datacentrix, we’ve engaged in over 80 discussions with clients on AI, and rolled out a number of proof-of-concept projects. Everyone wants AI, but few are prepared to address the personal and invasive nature of data management."

However, this process can be simplified by taking a stepwise approach, managing metadata and creating scalable models. "The goal here is to make data governance less daunting while building collaborative models with our clients," says Hanekom.

Choosing the right platform

Companies are facing a choice between product-specific AI extensions and deploying enterprise-wide AI platforms to cover wider scope challenges. While the former is quick to implement and has pre-defined use cases, it lacks the scalability of the latter.

"Enterprise-wide platforms provide the flexibility to govern, manage and exploit data across the organisation, ensuring many different use cases can be managed to the same standards," explains Anderson. "The key is to carefully evaluate use cases and make smart choices on the chosen platform on which to deploy. In today’s market, OEM licencing models are moving and changing every day so it is important to have a partner that can help you dissect this landscape and cut through the complexity."

The human element in AI

Despite its technical underpinnings, AI remains a profoundly human endeavour. “Our clients value trust and credibility,” Hanekom notes. "Technology is effectively just a byproduct of effective communication and collaboration. Thus, companies should foster a culture of critical thinking, problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration to ensure that their AI implementations resonate with human values and organisational goals.”

Scaling MVPs to business value

One of the persistent challenges in AI adoption is scaling minimum viable products (MVPs) and POCs into enterprise-wide solutions. "Why do so many AI projects falter at the scaling stage?” Anderson asks. “To get to scale, companies must not be too easily sold on the shiny outcomes being presented in the demonstrations and POCs they are being bombarded with today. The key is to understand and address early the impact on organisational policy, process and the people in the function being affected, as these are the key factors that prevent scaling and full value realisation.

“By addressing these organisational barriers, for example outdated policies and inconsistent governance practices, right at the outset, then the path to scale becomes significantly smoother.”

A future powered by AI-dentity

“The evolution of data’s AI-dentity is as much about technological prowess as it is about ethical stewardship and strategic foresight. At Datacentrix, we are committed to guiding our clients on this journey, ensuring that their AI solutions are as responsible as they are transformative,” Hanekom concludes.

Renowned Kenyan rap acts: Calvo Mistari and Naiboi are back in top form with their latest banger “Rudisha” – a collaboration featuring Bobby Mapesa and Zzero Sufuri.

“Rudisha” is a perfect meetup of hip hop and Kenyan pop, produced by renowned Kenyan music producer Dillie. It’s a perfect party starter embodying the unmatched spirit of Kenya’s 254 party scene. 

Speaking about the collaboration, Calvo Mistari expressed his admiration for his counterparts.

“I have worked with my Bobby for a pretty long time and our projects are always a breeze because we have developed a genuine brotherly relationship since we connected. With Zzero it was a new experience as I bumped into him in the studio. Dillie played him the song which he vibed to and dropped a verse. Bobby heard of it too and jumped on it without hesitation.” 

While the new track has reconnected Calvo Mistari and Naiobi with their loyal fanbase, Naiboi feels like it’s their way of paving way and paying tribute to Nairobi's young artists and rising stars.

He says, “I always wanted to connect with younger artists at home and merge my sound with theirs and this is a perfect start.” 

Watch “Rudisha” music video on YouTube

The release is accompanied by an attractive music video that matches the track’s rhythm and flow.

It seamlessly blends the seasoned expertise of Calvo Mistari, Naiboi and Bobby Mapesa with Zzero Sufuri’s unique style and contemporary flair.

Video is produced by Callivan Creatives and Team Mistari.

They partnered with VJ One as a director and his directorial expertise combined with Calvo Mistari and Naiboi’s creative vision has resulted in a visual masterpiece that complements the song.

Following their last music collaboration in 2021, this new year single jumpstarts a new chapter in their music career as they push the boundaries of their craft.

Calvo Mistari says, “This year Naiboi and I are gearing up to release back to back projects with new sounds. We are currently buzzing with loads of new music so stay tuned to watch the growth and rebrand in the music industry.” 

A group of Kenyan motorcycle riders have embarked on a journey around several Africa countries.

Their mission is to raise funds to support education in the country.

The riders, known as the Around Africa on Motorcycle Bikers, will be joined by fellow bikers from the countries they pass through, celebrating the beauty and unity of the African biker community.

"We are doing this because of the spirit of adventure, when you get to a certain point in your life you want to the things you have always hoped. So when the opportunity to ride around Africa came it was for me a no brainer to join but more importantly is you just don't want to ride because people are riding the fact that we are doing this with a charitable angle and angle that is so powerful like education, this money raised will bless Children who do not have opportunity to go to school." said Moses Nderitu one of the riders supported by Watu.

The riders begun their journey in Mombasa on Saturday proceeding through some of the countries where WATU has a presence including Tanzania, South Africa, DRC, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

"We are prepared for the challenges but one of the major challenge that we experienced riding from Nairobi to Mombasa was how hot it was, the heat was with us from very early in the ride that means getting dehydrated more than usual, the wind also dehydrated us and so when you are riding you have to hydrate. One of us severely dehydrated and we had to come to their rescue and we stopped, parked the bike and find somewhere to rest, one of the bikers also experienced a mechanical failure and that meant looking for a local mechanic but it was mixed. The biggest challenge is when we got to Mombasa and were received by Mombasa riders and one of them got involved in an accident, luckily we had two medics in the team so they were able to work on it and inform his family."

Speaking about the partnership, Watu head of commercial Chris Rumenda emphasized the need for promoting road safety.

"As a key stakeholder in the boda boda industry, Watu is committed to participating in initiatives that promote safety within the community. Our primary mission is to empower entrepreneurs by enabling asset ownership for the boda boda sector. To date, we have financed over 500,000 assets, significantly contributing to the total 1.8 million motorcycles in Kenya. said Rumenda.

Adding " However, with an annual average of over 9,000 motorcycle accidents across the country, it is imperative that we address this issue head-on. The assets we finance should empower our customers to support their families and drive economic growth—not become tools that lead to harm or loss of life. This year marks our 10th anniversary, and it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on our growth and the positive impact we’ve had across the various markets we serve."

Among the Safety Initiatives that Watu has initiated includes 'Tujenge Msingi Safety Events' which is conducted quarterly in partnership with the NTSA, these events educate our customers and the broader boda boda community on road safety, Safety Gear Distribution, Bodaboda stage engagements Scholarship programs among others.

Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir has firmly thrown his weight behind the Council of Governors (CoG) in opposing the recent directive by the Controller of Budget barring county governments from issuing bursaries to secondary school students.

The Governor condemned the move as a direct attack on the rights of vulnerable students during a speech at the launch of last-mile water connection projects in Jomvu, where he was accompanied by area MP Hon. Bady Twalib.

Addressing a gathering of residents, Governor Nassir described the decision as “a threat to the social safety net” established by devolved governments to bridge gaps in education access for the most disadvantaged.

"At a time when families are grappling with the harsh realities of an economic downturn, denying students bursaries is tantamount to cutting off their lifeline. This directive must be reconsidered,” the Governor stated passionately.

He further emphasized the critical role counties play in supplementing national efforts to promote education.

"Here in Mombasa, programs such as the Governor’s Scholarship, the No Child Left Behind initiative, and the Boarding School Bursary program support over 55,000 students. These initiatives ensure that no child is left out of school due to financial challenges,” he added.

The Governor echoed the CoG’s stance that the directive undermines the principles of devolution and contravenes the constitutional rights of county governments to manage their budgets in a manner that directly addresses local needs. 

He called for a more collaborative approach between the national and county governments to ensure that education remains accessible to all, especially in economically marginalized areas.

"Devolution was designed to bring services closer to the people. Education is a cornerstone of this commitment. Denying counties the ability to fund bursaries is not just unfair—it is unconstitutional,” Governor Nassir asserted.

During the event, Bady Twalib, the MP for Jomvu, also voiced his support for the Governor’s position, highlighting the significant role county bursaries play in keeping students in school.

"We cannot allow our children to suffer due to bureaucratic decisions. Education is the key to unlocking the potential of our communities, and we must safeguard it at all costs,” Hon. Twalib remarked.

The event, which marked the launch of crucial last-mile water connection projects, underscored the county government’s commitment to improving basic services even amid fiscal challenges.

Governor Nassir reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to prioritizing projects that directly benefit residents, ensuring that both education and essential infrastructure remain at the forefront of his agenda.

As the Council of Governors continues to lobby for the reversal of the directive, Governor Nassir’s vocal support adds weight to the growing call for equitable treatment of devolved functions, especially in critical sectors like education.

The Governor urged all stakeholders, including the Controller of Budget, to reconsider the implications of such decisions, warning that they could exacerbate existing inequalities and derail progress made in ensuring access to quality education for all.

"This is not just about counties—it is about the future of our children and our nation. We must protect their right to education at all costs,” he concluded, to resounding applause from the Jomvu residents.